Axelrod's plan for the midterm elections might need a bit of tweaking.
In an interview with National Journal, senior White House political adviser David Axelrod laid down several keys to strengthening the Democratic position in an election that all signs suggest is shaping up as extremely difficult for his party. Axelrod's checklist includes improvement in the economy, some (but not vastly more) legislative action and, most pointedly, an effort to draw sharper contrasts with Republican positions. His comments may foreshadow a much more pugnacious Democratic message as the election approaches....
"In certain ways we are at the mercy of forces that are larger than things we can control," Axelrod said. "If we see steady months of jobs growth between now and next November, I think the picture will be different than if we don't. I think Ronald Reagan learned that lesson in 1982. We're not immune to the physics of all of this. But I'm guardedly optimistic that we are going to see that progress. You know, there are signs of that. We're going to just keep doing everything we can to promote progress."
Next on his checklist: "finish this health care bill successfully." And after that? "Then we have to go out and sell it," he said. "I think we can run on this. I think there is so much in here that has value to every American, and mostly to people who have insurance."
The danger is overselling what this bill does, particularly in light of the already cynical American public, which according to a new CBS poll thinks the bill doesn't go far enough.
The CBS poll finds that Obama’s approval rating on health care has dipped to 36%. But the poll also asked whether people think the reform proposal, in various ways, goes too far, is about right, or doesn’t go far enough:
In every one of those polled — covering Americans, controlling costs, and regulating insurance companies — more think the bill doesn’t go far enough.
Recognizing and celebrating the achievement of passing a health insurance bill is in order. But it's just that--health insurance reform, not systemic healthcare reform. It's a valuable achievement, but any celebration of it should come along with the recognition of everything that the bill doesn't do, and the promise that the process isn't over.
Overselling it to a public that remains skeptical, particularly when the majority of them aren't going to see any change until 2014 (unless insurance companies decide to raise rates astronomically in response to the bill's passing, as they've been threatening throughout this process) won't help in 2010, or in 2012.
